Ancient Greek Civilizations Overview

Minoans

• Flourished on Crete from approximately 2000-1000 BC
• Not Greek in origin, but influenced Greek culture
• Engaged in trade for economic gain
• Weakened by a volcanic eruption
• Conquered by the Mycenaeans

Mycenaeans

• Ruled from approximately 1600-1100 BC
• Conquered Crete and other city-states, unifying them
• Involved in the Trojan War
• Expanded their influence as far as Spain
• Created Linear B, an early form of Greek language

The Greek Dark Ages

• Period from approximately 1100-800 BC with limited information
• Characterized by sea raids
• Decline in wealth, population, trade, art, culture, and political stability
• Famine, drought, disease, rebellion, and natural disasters affected the population
• Loss of farming and literacy skills
• Urban exodus due to difficult conditions
• City destruction and abandonment
• Trade disruption and death

Archaic Age

• Period from approximately 800-500 BC
• Lack of a central powerful state; independent city-states emerged
• Greek colonization of the Mediterranean expanded
• Traded olive oil and pottery
• Greece's dominance in the region solidified
• Polis: the fundamental political unit, encompassing a city-state, surrounding countryside, and community for politics.
• Polis had variation in dialects and values.
• Forms of government included monarchy, oligarchy, tyranny, and (limited) democracy (excluding women)
• Hoplites: Greek infantry soldiers
• Phalanx formation: a powerful military formation of closely-packed soldiers using spears for combat
• Inter-city state conflicts were common; victory brought pride and prestige

Greco-Persian Wars

• Marathon (490 BC):
  • Persian King Darius I aimed to conquer Greek territory
  • Greek victory despite significant numerical disadvantage (Greeks outnumbered 3:1) due to phalanx formation
  • Athenian messenger ran 26 miles to Athens to announce victory, collapsing and dying from exertion
  • Persian retreat
• Thermopylae (480 BC):
  • First of the second Persian invasions
  • Persians sought to advance to Athens via the Thermopylae pass
  • 7,000 Greeks held off 130,000 Persians for 7 days at the narrow pass
  • Spartan defenders held off Persian advance for 2 days by blocking the only road
  • Greek traitor revealed a back route, enabling Persian encirclement and defeat of the Spartans
• Salamis (480 BC):
  • Naval battle
  • Athenian general tricked Xerxes into thinking the Athenians were retreating
  • Advantageous Athenian location (bay) allowed them to corner Persian ships, leading to many Persian casualties and retreat
• Plataea (479 BC):
  • 3-day battle
  • Greeks outnumbered, but Spartan leadership and strategic actions led to Persian losses

Athens

• Powerful military and government
• Aggressive expansionist approach (Imperialism), at times harsh
• Democracy limited to free male citizens
• Ostracism: procedure to temporarily exile unpopular citizens
• Yearly elected magistrates, including generals (selected for popularity and financial power), drawn from various social classes.
• Minimal agricultural self-sufficiency; relied on imports for food
• Focused on olive oil and wine production
• Known for philosophy (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), the Olympics, and theatre
• Simple everyday life; extravagant public buildings
• Large-scale, publicly-accessible theatres
• Philosophy debated at social gatherings (dining)
• Men: Outdoors, socializing, and physical activity
• Women: Home-bound, childcare, cooking, and cleaning; marriage in early teens; possibly received education but limited roles

Antigone

• Creon:
  • Made unjust decisions concerning burials
  • Disregarded moral and divine law
• Antigone:
  • Adhered to divine law, demanding a proper burial for her brother
  • Rebelling against Creon's unjust decrees
• Ismene:
  • Provided more reserved counsel: sister of Antigone
• Haemon:
  • Creon's son, and Antigone's fiancé
  • Rational approach and defiance of his father's decisions
• Creon as Tragic Hero:
  • Initially acted for the good of his people, but with flawed understanding of moral order
  • Disregarded divine laws; his decisions led to tragic consequences (family deaths)
• Proper Kingship:
  • Piety, justice, and wisdom needed for proper leadership; putting people's interests ahead of one's own desires
• Contrast between man-made and divine law
• Divine laws prevail over human laws
• Focus on loyalty, justice, wisdom, piety, and the consequences of decisions

Comparison of Odyssey and Epic of Gilgamesh

• Themes of loyalty, loss, and divine intervention present in both
• Both heroes face challenges from antagonists; both experience tragic loss
• Civil disobedience: Antigone's actions in defying the state

Additional Themes

• Fate and free will: Creon's limited free will due to tragic destiny
• Importance of piety and loyalty: family loyalty and adherence to divine law
• Wisdom and moral judgment in decision-making